Means for treating liquids



Nov. 29, 1938. R. L. WILLIAMS MEANS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Filed June 2,1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I I

FIG. 5

INVENTOR Razz/er L. BY 2 4M my ATTORNEY MAMA/vs FIG. 3

Nov. 29, 1938.

R. L. WILLIAMS 2,138,051

MEANS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Filed June 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 60. (rl/ 60. L 11/11 11 u n n u u n u u u n u f INVENTOR ROBERT L. WILLIAMSATTORNEY NOV. 29, 1938. w s I 2,138,051

MEANS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS- Filed June 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. I2

E 99 INVENTOR RaBERT L. WILLIAMS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1938 STATESres MEANS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Application June 2, 1933, Serial No.674,020

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for treating liquids in whichcompressional wave energy is applied to the liquid. It'is applicable inthe manufacture of certain liquid products in which two componentsubstances are brought together and a dispersion or emulsion is formedby the suspension of one substance in the other. The means and methodare also generally applicable to the denaturing of certain cellularstructure and also other physical and quasi-physical reactions.

In the present invention the inventor has discovered that theapplication of compressional wave energy of a frequency within the sonicrange produces under proper methods of operation a completeemulsification or dispersion in certain kinds of liquid substances as,for instance, cream in milk. It has also been determined that within therange of sonic frequencies the size of the particles of dispersion isgoverned to a considerable extent by the sound frequencies and theintensity applied.

It has also been found that in effecting dispersions of this nature, inwhich apparently the action is a disruption of the surface between thetwo substances, that results may be gained with the application of smallcompressional wave energy provided it is sufiicient to bring about anactual particle movementgof one surface through the other and that thisparticular type of action is practically always present in the operationof a so-called sonic oscillator where cavitation is produced.

In the present type of apparatus and in the present method cavitation isproduced in the medium in which the compressional wave energy issupplied when a particle in the medium is moving away from an adjacentparticle so as to cause a vacuolar surface to exist between the twoadjacent particles. This type of action can conceivablybe produced bymotions of particles in opposite directions, but more frequently it isproduced by motions of particles in the same direction, but one particlehaving a greater velocity than the other. It may obviously be producedin the medium or at the border of the medium and a nonmoving surface oreven at the border of the medium and a moving surface which does notfollow in the same manner that the liquid does.

The disruption of the liquid surface is a mechanical phenomenon and isproduced because the potential energy stored in the liquid at the pointwhere the liquid particle is to move is not suflicient when thispotential energy is converted to kinetic energy to create sufiicientvelocity to have the particle follow its adjacent particle. This actionis therefore present to a more marked degree in substances in which thepressure or potential energy is the least. In the present ap- 5 paratus,therefore, this cavitation action is more readily observed in a flowingliquid at the point in which the velocity of fiow of the particles ischanging.

In the present invention, I prefer to use fre- 1 quencies in the sonicrange and more particularly frequencies of 4000 cycles or less. As theliquid load on the diaphragm at these frequencies varies the diaphragmresonance, the power source should have some flexibility in tuning or 5variation in frequency so that the proper frequency producing themaximum resonance with the particular liquid load upon which theoscillator is operating, may be obtained.

In the present application various means are described for carrying outthe invention and these are embodied in the description given below inconnection with the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of adevice in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken onthe line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a modification of a detail shown inFig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a further modification of the detail shown in Fig.3; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 4 as seen fromthe bottom; Fig. 6 shows a further modification of the device shown inFig. 1; Fig. 6a shows a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 6;Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention; Figs. 8 and 9 showfurther embodiments of the invention illustrating the methods ofcombining separate substances; Fig. 10 shows a further modification ofthe device illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 11 shows a plan view of a part ofthe modification shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 shows a further modification.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the device comprises abase I which is part of a casing in which the compressionalwave-producing means is contained. The casing includes the side walls 2and a heavy recessed plate 3 positioned opposite the base I, the base Iand the walls 2 and the top plate 3 forming a chamber 4 which may serveas a cooling means and in which water or other cooling liquid may flow,or be caused to flow, through the inlet pipe 5 and out of the outletpipe 6.

The chamber 4 may be accessible through the threaded cover 1 positionedin the plate I. The base sides and plate may be formed as one integralelement and this is the preferable construction. Mounted upon therecessed portion of the plate 3 is a flat plate 8 which, as indicated inFig. 1, has a center projecting cylindrical portion 8 which may bethreaded with threads ID to hold the plate at the center of the largecenter plate 3.

The plate 8 has welded to it a number of laminated blocks. As indicatedin Fig. 2 these blocks l I, l2, l3 and I4 are placed about the centerwith their corners together. Each block is provided with a grove I5 inwhich one side of the coil l6 rests. The coil I 6 is energized from theconductor I I with the alternating current of the desired frequency.Opposed to the laminated blocks ll, l2, l3 and I4 are the laminatedarmature blocks I8 which are welded to the plate i 9 positioned on thecenter boss 26 of the diaphargm 2i. The boss 20 may have a threaded stud22 by which the plate I9 is held firmly to the diaphragm or any othersuitable means may be used to secure the armature to the diaphragm.

The diaphragm 2i is provided with a heavy outer rim 23 and is held tothe lower plate 3 by means of a group of bolts or screws 24 arrangedabout the periphery of the diaphragm. Upon the diaphragm 2| is formedthe chamber 25, the diaphragm 2i forming the lower face of the chamber,the upper face being formed by the cover 26 which is bolted to thediaphragm 2| in the rim 23 by means of the bolts 21 arranged around theouter edge of the cover, the inner surface of the cover at this pointand the diaphragm touching one another. A fluid-tight gasket 28 ay beprovided between the two surfaces to furnish a tight joint to preventthe escape of liquid from within the chamber. The chamber 25 ispreferably formed with a wall sloping downward towards the edges so thatthe chamber is somewhat higher at the middle than at the sides. At thecenter of the chamber there may be positioned a nozzle 29 having a lowersurface adapt-- ed to be disposed parallel with the surface of thediaphragm. This nozzle may be provided with a center orifice 30 whichconnects with the outlet pipe 3|. The nozzle 29, as indicated in Fig. l,is threaded into a central boss 32 in the cover 26 and a threaded nut 33may be provided so that the nozzle may be adjusted and spaced from thediaphragm 2| and firmly held in place by the clamping nut 33. Asindicated in Fig. 1 a petcock 34 is provided at the top of the cover sothat any entrapped air or gases may be released. The nozzle 29 may beformed as indicated in Fig. 1 with inclined upper walls 35 correspondingto the inclination of the surface 36 in the upper central part of thecasing.

The liquid may be entered through the inlet tube 31 to which is attacheda container 38 in which the liquid may be held as a reservoir. Thecontainer 38 may be entirely enclosed and pressure may be applied to itfor forcing the liquid through the system, or the container may besituated considerably above the end 39 of the outlet pipe 3i and in thiscase the head of liquid pressure upon the system will aid in forcing ordrawing the liquid through it.

In the illustration shown in Fig. 1 it will be noted that the centralorifice 36 is considerably larger in area than the entrance to it at theinner circumference of the nozzle 29 and that therefore under theseconditions an increased velocity may occur as the liquid passes into theorifice 30. This action in connection with the siphoning of the liquidthrough the system provides a means whereby disruption of the liquidsurface with the application of compressional wave energy more easilyoccurs. As indicated in Fig. 1 the nozzle 28 may be adjustablypositioned in the cover 26.

As indicated in Fig. 3 the cover 40 may be formed with the nozzle 4| asa part of it. This may be formed by casting the center part of the cover40 to form a downwardly projecting portion from the surface of the rim42 of the cover.

In Fig. 4 the nozzle 43 corresponds to the nozzle 29 in Fig. 1 and maybe used to replace the nozzle 29 in the device shown in Fig. l. Thenozzle 43, as shown in Fig. 5, has a helical groove 44 which is formedby building up from the nozzle the helical wall 45 which preferably ismade an integral part of the nozzle itself. The groove 44, as will benoted in Fig. 5, extends from the outer edge of the nozzle inwardly tothe center opening 46. This nozzle may be used in a position slightlyabove the diaphragm 2| or in fact it may be used touching the diaphragm2| in which case the only liquid which will escape from one side of thewall 45 to the other will be when the diaphragm is vibrating and awayfrom the nozzle position. If it is desired to overcome this condition, aspring or some other means may be used to keep the nozzle in continuouscontact with the diaphragm.

Another modification of the device shown in Fig. 1 is shown in Figs. 6and 6a. In this modification the oscillator 50 which may be of aconstruction shown in Fig. 1 has a diaphragm 5| over which a chamber 52is formed by means of the cover 53. The cover 53 is held firmly to theoscillator by means of the bolts 54 spaced around the periphery of thediaphragm. The chamber 52, as indicated in Fig. 6, is very fiat and thecover 53, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 6a, is provided with a helicalgroove 55 which extends continuously from the inlet opening 56 in thecover to the outlet opening at the center of the diaphragm. The groove55 is formed by a downwardly extending wall 58 similarly as described inconnection with Figs. 4 and 5. In Figs. 6 and 6a it will be noted thatthere is no space in which the liquid may remain idle and thatpractically a continuous flow is established for the whole volume ofliquid from the inlet to the outlet opening.

A further modification of the system shown in Figs. 6 and 6a. isindicated in Figs. 10 and 11. As

' shown in Fig. 10 the liquid may be supplied from a tank 59 through afeed pipe 68 in which a valve 6| may be placed to a feed chamber 62formed at the side of the vibration producer as illustrated in Fig. 11.

The vibration producer, as indicated in Fig. 10, comprises two opposedoscillators 63 and 64 having diaphragms 65 and 66, respectively. Thediaphragms 65 and 66 are positioned to form a flat chamber 61 which isclosed in by the side wall 68. The liquid is fed into the fiat chamberat one side through the small openings 69 and is drawn or forced acrossthe faces of the diaphragms 64 and 85 and flows out through the smallopening 10 into the outlet chamber II where it is drawn off through thepipe 12 which also is supplied with a control valve 13.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the liquid is supplied from a singlefeed 14 through the valve 15 after which the flow is divided between thesupply pipes I6 and TI to the vibrator 18. The vibrator 18 hasoscillating diaphragms 13 at both sides of the oscillator casing. Overthe oscillat- 'ing diaphragm I3 are formed chambers in which the nozzles8! are of a type similar as that described in Fig. 1. The device shownin Fig. 7

is positioned vertically with the base 82 supporting the diaphragms in avertical position.

In Fig. 8 which shows a further modification,

the device is provided with a fixed nozzle 83 positioned slightly abovethe diaphragm 84. The liquid in this case may enter the diaphragm at itscenter through the pipe 85 and be withdrawn at the side through the pipe86. This type of action may be contrasted with the action in which theliquid enters from the edge of the diaphragm and is pushed out at thecenter where a pumping action is created which materially aids in theflow of the liquid.

In the present modification in Fig. 8 this pumping action is opposed andas a result the pressure is built up in the reverse direction, that is,the diaphragm tends to hold back the flow of the liquid from the pipe85. In this modification the pipe 85 is supplied directly from a mixingchamber 81 in which the paddle 88 may be positioned for preliminarymixing or beating together the liquid in the chamber 81 which issupplied through the inlet openings 89 and 90. The volume of how in eachpipe may be governed by the valves 20! and 202 so that the desiredmixture may be obtained and controlled.

The modification shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that shown in Fig. 8 withthe exception that the beating or mixing chamber is eliminated and thesupply to the diaphragm 84 is made direct through the inlet pipes 9| and92. A suction pump 200 may be used to create a negative pressure anddraws the liquid over the diaphragm thereby increasing the cavitation.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12 the liquid may be supplied from thetank 93 through a pipe 94 to the center of a pipe 95. At both ends ofthe pipe 95 there are positioned vibrating diaphragms 96 which areenergized by the'oscillators 97. Each end of the pipe 95 is suppliedwith a nozzle 98 of the type shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and the flow of theliquid will be from the tank 93 through the pipe 94 at the end of whichit divides and flows both ways in the pipe 95 over the diaphragms 96 andout through the outlet pipes 99 and I92 which are joined in a singlepipe I00 in which a valve l0! may be placed. In this modification shownin Fig. 12 the pipe 95 may be made a half wave length or a whole wavelength of the wave length corresponding to the frequency at which theoscillators are excited in the liquid medium, and a resonance may bebuilt up in the pipe 95 to intensify the vibrational energy in themedium.

By properly adjusting the static pressure and the vibrational energycavitation in the medium may be set up over a considerable section ofthe pipe. If desired, the flow of the liquid may be varied and the inletmay be at the valve l0l and the outlet through the center pipe 95, or,in fact, it may be preferable in some cases to have the inlet fiow atthe pipe 99 and the outlet in the pipe I02 in which case the liquidmedium will circulate through the whole length of the pipe 95.

Having now described the invention, I claim:

1. A device for treating liquids comprising a sonic oscillator having asound radiating diaphragm and electromagnetic ineans contained thereinfor operating the same, means forming a chamber with the diaphragm asone side, said means including a plate positioned close to thediaphragm, means for feeding the liquidv to the chamber at points ofsmall vibration of the diaphragm and means for withdrawing the liquidafter it has passed over the points of great vibration of the diaphragm,said plate and. diaphragm forming at its greatest point of vibration anarrow channel through which said liquid flows.

2. A device for treating liquids comprising a sonic oscillator having afrequency approximately 4000 cycles or less, a chamber formed with thediaphragm as one side thereof, means feeding the liquid to the chamberat the side of the diaphragm, a plate positioned close to said diaphragmsaid plate being provided with an orifice for withdrawing said liquid,said plate and diaphragm forming a narrow channel through which saidliquid flows.

3. A device for mixing liquids comprising a chamber having two vibratoryopposed walls forming in part a narrow channel, means for V1- bratingsaid walls normal to the surface thereof, means causing the liquid toflow in the edge of the chamber at one side and out at theopposite side.

4. A device for treating liquids comprising an oscillator havingvibratory surfaces at opposite ends thereof, chambers formed over saidvibratory surfaces, means for directing the liquid to enter at the sidesof said chambers and means for withdrawing the liquid at the centersthereof, said chamber being fiat and providing a narrow channel throughwhich the liquid flows.

5. A device for treating liquids comprising means for producing a sourceof sonic vibrations, said means having a radiating surface, meansforming an enclosed chamber with one wall thereof comprising saidradiating surface, a plate, means positioning said plate over and spacedaway from said radiating surface within said chamber and means providinginlet and outlet entrances to said chamber, the space formed between theplate and the radiating surface providing a narrow channel through whichthe liquid flows.

6. A device for treating liquids comprising means for producing a sourceof sonic vibrations, said means having a radiating surface, meansforming an enclosed chamber with one wall thereof comprising saidradiating surface, a plate, means positioning said plate over and spacedaway from said radiating surface within said chamber, means providing aninlet to said chamber and means providing another opening to saidchamber through said plate, the space formed between the plate and theradiating surface providing a narrow channel through which the liquidflows.

'7. A device for treating liquids comprising means for producing asource of sonic vibrations, said means having a plane radiating surface,means forming an enclosed chamber with one wall thereof comprising saidradiating surface, a plate having a portion thereof fiat, means mountingsaid plate in said chamber with said flat portion opposite and parallelto said radiating surface, said plate being provided with an openingconnecting externally of said chamber, said chamber having a secondopening, and the space between said plate and the radiating surfaceforming a narrow channel through which said liquid flows.

8. A device for treating liquids comprising means for producing a sourceof sonic vibrations, said means having a plane radiating surface, meansforming an enclosed chamber with one wall thereof comprising saidradiating surface, a plate having a portion thereof flat, means mountingsaid plate in said chamber in the center of the wall opposite theradiating surface, said flat portion being parallel to and over theradiating surface, said plate being provided with an opening in thecenter thereof, said chamber being provided with another opening, andthe space between said plate and the radiating surface forming a narrowchannel through which said liquid flows.

9. A device for treating liquids comprising an oscillator havingvibratory surfaces at opposite ends thereof, chambers formed as a narrowchannel over said vibratory surfaces, a conduit having individualbranches entering at the sides of said chambers and a second conduitconnected to the center of each chamber.

10. A device for-treating liquids comprising an oscillator having adiaphragm and a base, the diaphragm being arranged vertically andperpendicular to said base, a chamber formed as a narrow channel oversaid diaphragm, a conduit entering at the side of said chamber and oneat the center.

11. A device for treating liquids comprising an oscillator having adiaphragm, means supporting said oscillator to position said diaphragmin a vertical position, a chamber formed over said diaphragm, said meansincluding a plate member positioned close to and parallel to saiddiaphragm, and forming a narrow channel through which the liquid flows,a conduit entering said chamber at the side and a conduit entering saidchamber at the center.

12. A device for treating liquids comprising an oscillator havingdiaphragms at both ends, means supporting said oscillator to positionsaid diaphragm in vertical planes, chambers formed as a narrow channelover said diaphragms, conduits entering said chambers at the sides andconduits entering at the center.

13. A device for treating liquids comprising an oscillator having adiaphragm, means supporting said oscillator to position the diaphragmvertically, a chamber formed over said diaphragm having a thin fiatportion in proximity to said diaphragm and forming a narrow channelthrough which the liquid flows, and means for conducting and removingliquid from said chamber.

14. A device for treating liquids comprising an oscillator havingdiaphragms at both ends thereof, chambers formed as a narrow channelover said diaphragms, plates positioned with surfaces opposite and nearsaid diaphragms in said chambers, means providing a conduit through saidplates into said chambers and means providing a second conduit at thesides of said chambers. 15. A device for treating liquids comprising twooscillators, means positioning said oscillators to form a chamberbetween the diaphragms thereof, means providing openings at oppositeends of said chamber and means providing inlet and outlet openings tosaid chamber.

16. A device for treating liquids comprising a chamber having twovibratory opposed walls forming in part a narrow channel, meansproviding inlets and outlets at opposite ends of said chamber and meansproviding reservoirs adjacent said chamber connected thereto throughsaid inlet and outlet openings.

1'7. A device for treating liquids comprising a chamber having twoopposed walls forming in part a flat circular chamber forming a narrowchannel, means forming reservoirs at opposite ends of said chamber,means connecting said reservoirs to said chambers and means providingexternal connections to said reservoirs.

18. A device for treating liquids comprising a sonic oscillator having adiaphragm and electromagnetic means contained therein for operating thesame, a cooling chamber surrounding the oscillator, means forming achamber at the top of the oscillator on the diaphragm, said meansincluding a plate positioned close to the diaphragm and forming a narrowchannel, means for causing the liquid to flow over the diaphragm andmeans for withdrawing the same.

ROBERT LONGF'EILOW WILLIAMS.

